Congress Turns In Its Horoscope

August 30, 1987

Singing star John Denver went to Washington to talk about the farm crisis the other day, but was stood up; the two senators who were supposed to sponsor him didn`t appear. Without them, he couldn`t get into the Senate press gallery, so he had to deliver his message to visitors on the Capitol lawn. They probably will not influence national farm policy.

Mr. Denver`s cool reception seems to be part of a trend: Movie and TV celebrities are no longer in great demand as witnesses on Capitol Hill. There is something comforting in that. For awhile during the parade of show-business names before congressional committees, it seemed our lawmakers were so eager for guidance from the stars that they were using a Hollywood horoscope.

For the participants, this was great public relations. It allowed congressmen and professional performers to bask in each other`s spotlight. Still, it didn`t seem right to base national policies on how well actors could portray anguish; congressmen are paid to be legislators, not drama critics. In any case, so many celebrity witnesses were crowding into committee rooms that their presence lost its novelty rather soon.

So the fad seems to have run its course-thanks, perhaps, to firmness of mind on the part of our lawmakers. On the other hand, maybe the professional actors gave up after Oliver North won the Oscar.